Bicycle



(No Model.)

E. THUEMLER.

BIGYGLB.

No. 398,195. Patented Feb. 19, 1889,

N. Penna Pwwnwsnphw. wam-gm nio.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEErcE6 EDXVARD THUEMLER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

BICYCLE..

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 398,195, dated February 19, 1889.

Application filed August 16, 1888. Serial No. 282,923. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD THUEMLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bicycles, dac., of which the following' is a speciiication.

My invention relates to the seats of bicycles, tricyeles, or other wheeled vehicles that are propelled by the rider. Its object is to arrange and support the seat or saddle in such a manner that its elevation may be adj usted or changed by the rider while he is mounted thereon, and even while the machine is in motion.

It consists of 'a seat or saddle resting lon a support which may be adjusted vertically, and

is held at any desired elevation by means of a spring-dog, friction-clamp, or any other suitable locking device that may be controlled or released by the rider.

The accompanying drawings show my invention as applied in one way to the present well-known safety-bicycle; but it might be adapted to other styles of machines, the details of construction varied in many ways that will readily suggest themselves to a skilled mechanic, and some of the parts used without the others, without departing from the spirit of my invention, as hereinafter set forth in the claims.

Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of a bicycle having my improved seatsupport applied thereto. Figs. 2 and 3. are similar views of seat-standards detached, showing some of the modifications that may be employed in carrying out my invention.

It is known as the class of safety-bicycles in which there are two wheels, A A', of

comparatively small diameter-say thirty inches. Mounted upon the axle of the rear wheel, A', is the supporting-frame B, pivotally by a suitable chain, C3, to a corresponding sprocket-Wheel, C4, on the driving-wheel A. The seat or saddle is located between the two Wheels and nearly over the cranks, as is usual in this class of machines, in all or nearly all of which some provision is made to per# mit of the vertical adjustment of the seat. Usually this is accomplished by making the upright standard of the frame hollow and'fitting therein a stud-post, upon the upper end' of which the saddle is secured. The post slips up or down in the standard, and is held at any desired point by any suitable means, such as set-screws, friction-clamps, &c. Vith these devices, when the rider adjusts the elevation of his seat, he must be off the machine and has to employ a wrench, screwdriver, or some other tool to loosen the setscrew or clamp, and having once attained the. desired elevation for his seat it is allowed `to remain so permanently. This. elevation is usually at such a point that when the cranks are at the lowest point'of' their revolution the riders leg is straightened out and the foot depressed from the ankle-joint, so that the toes or ball of the Jfoot will just reach the crankpedal and the foot is still several inches from the ground, the full clearance allowed the cranksay 'from four to seven inches. If, therefore, the rider desires to stop his machine, it is necessary for him to dismountat once, as he cannot maintain the balance of a' still machine and is unable to reach the ground with either foot.

Now it is the main purpose of tion to obviate this difficulty by so mounting the seat that its vertical elevation may be adjusted and controlled at any time by the rider while mounted thereon, and when he desires to stop he can lower the seat until his feet will rest upon the ground, thus enabling him to remain seated on the saddle while the machine is standing still, to dismount therefrom when standing upon the ground, or remount and start it while standing and elevate the saddle to its normal position when sufficient headway is attained.

In Fig. 1 the standard D of the frame is hollow and closed at its lower end. The saddle# post D fits into the upper end of the standmy inven-- IOO trip-lever G', pivoted on the steering-handle In testimony whereof I alx my signature in G of the bicycle and vconnected by suitable presence of two Witnesses.

mechanism to the detent-catch whereby the 1 ,T f T latter may be Withdrawn from, engagement LD ARD HIL EMLER' 5 with the notches in the seat-post, substau- Ntllesses:

tiallyas and for the purpose hereinbefore set WM. A. SKINKLE,

forth. FRANK ON EIL. 

